# Agency communicators earn 7 defense media awards

/ Published April 20, 2023
FORT BELVOIR, Va., 
Writers, photographers and videographers from across the Defense Logistics Agency earned seven Defense Media Merit Awards recognizing journalism produced in 2022.

The Defense Media Merit Awards program recognizes excellence among the Defense Department's print and broadcast journalists, graphic artists, photographers, public affairs specialists and videographers assigned to combatant commands, joint task forces, defense agencies and field activities.

"It’s a great honor for DLA’s public affairs workforce to have so many of their submissions receive awards," said DLA Public Affairs Director Joe Yoswa. "I know our teams are telling our story, showcasing our efforts and communicating for the agency. It’s a pleasure working with the public affairs professionals in the agency, and it’s a real highlight to see them recognized."

The following articles, photos and videos earned DMMA recognition.

## Commentary, first place

                Tipping back: A commentary on alcoholism                            Excessive alcohol use is a leading preventable cause of death in the United States, shortening the lives of those who die by an average of 26 years. Excessive alcohol use includes binge drinking (consuming 4 or more drinks on an occasion for a woman or 5 or more drinks on an occasion for a man) and heavy drinking (8 or more drinks per week for a woman or 15 or more drinks per week for a man). Source and photo from National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health PromotionVIRIN: 220713-D-D0441-900    My family was having dinner on a Monday night when my phone rang. It was my best friend Shelly’s dad. Shelly was in the hospital. She was struggling through a treacherous alcohol detox. Her skin and eyes were a deep yellow. She was severely bloated, weak, confused and barely able to speak.    

**Tipping back: A commentary on alcoholism,**by Connie Braesch, DLA Energy

## Information Story, third place

                DLA Energy extends utility services partnership with U.S. Navy                            The Department of Navy is extending its partnership with Defense Logistics Agency Energy to privatize more government-owned utility systems on Navy installations nationwide. Assistant Commander for Public Works at the Naval Facilities Engineering Command Peter Lynch and DLA Energy Commander Air Force Brig. Gen. Jimmy Canlas signed a memorandum of agreement at DLA Headquarters on Fort Belvoir, Virginia, Aug. 31. Photo by Chris Lynch, DLA Photographer            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Chris Lynch, DLA PhotographerVIRIN: 220831-D-HE260-1007    The Department of Navy is extending its partnership with DLA Energy to privatize more government-owned utility systems on Navy installations nationwide. DLA Energy Utility Services provides pre- and post-award contracting and technical expertise for service partners who want to transfer ownership, operations and maintenance of installation utility systems to a contracted system owner.    

**DLA Energy extends utility services partnership with U.S. Navy**, by Connie Braesch, DLA Energy

## Portrait, second place

                DLA Troop Support flag room staff celebrate Flag Day at Betsy Ross House                            To celebrate Flag Day, June 14, The DLA Troop Support Flag Room team demonstrated the making of the presidential flag to visitors at the Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia. The Flag Room is the sole producer of the presidential and vice presidential flags, and its staff are considered the “Betsy Ross of the 21st century,” for their patriotic flag making.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Mikia MuhammadVIRIN: 220614-D-SJ123-003    To celebrate Flag Day, June 14, The DLA Troop Support Flag Room team demonstrated the making of the presidential flag to visitors at the Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia. The Flag Room is the sole producer of the presidential and vice presidential flags, and its staff are considered the “Betsy Ross of the 21st century,” for their patriotic flag making.    

**DLA Troop Support flag room staff celebrates Flag Day at Betsy Ross House**, by Mikia Muhammad, DLA Troop Support

## News Photo, first place

                Plasma cutter in action                            Brian Davidson an instructor with #DLADispositionServices Expeditionary Site Support Team in Battle Creek, Michigan demonstrates the proper use of a plasma cutter for his students, a mix of military reservist and DLA civilians. The plasma cutter that the students learn on is the same model that the agency has used for almost 10 years when deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq. It is also part of the Expeditionary site set that allows the agency to deploy a team or reverse logistics professionals to assist forward deployed military units around the world.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: Jeffrey LandenbergerVIRIN: 220113-D-YU183-003    Brian Davidson, an instructor with the DLA Disposition Services Expeditionary Site Support Team in Battle Creek, Michigan, demonstrates the proper use of a plasma cutter for his students, a mix of military reservist and DLA civilians. The plasma cutter that the students learn on is the same model that the agency has used for almost 10 years when deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq. It is also part of the expeditionary site set that allows the agency to deploy a team or reverse logistics professionals to assist forward deployed military units around the world.    

**Plasma cutter in action**, by Jeffrey Landenberger, DLA Disposition Services

## Photojournalism, first place

            SLIDESHOW | 5 images | 220624-D-GV919-432                            220624-D-GV919-432                                            1 of 5                                        A veteran receives a pair of combat boots at the Chicago veterans stand down in June 2022. Thousands of surplus military boots are sent from Defense Logistics Agency Disposition Services to the Department of Veterans Affairs each year to be given away to homeless and at-risk veterans during community events aimed at reducing homelessness.                                        Download Image                                            Image Details                                        220624-D-GV919-237                                            2 of 5                                        Former Marine Infantryman Michael Hampton said he was out on the street when he was hit by a car. “I died and woke up in the morgue,” he said. Not only did the VA keep his broken body alive with titanium body parts, they also gave him an experimental post-surgery morphine reduction method involving acupuncture-like treatments in his inner ear. He said the stand down, with so many resources in one place, was beneficial to vets like him, “especially right now.”                                        Download Image                                            Image Details                                        220624-D-GV919-123                                            3 of 5                                        Former Marine Corps Avionics Electrician Theresa Ashley waits for a crosstown bus after loading up on surplus military clothing and gear. She said that, before attending as a services recipient, she had volunteered at the Chicago veterans stand down from 2010 to 2015. She saw it as a “good deal” for vets on the street and “helpful, especially for people who are trying to get back on their feet.” A self-described shopping addict, Ashley later “shopped myself out of my home.” But, Ashley said, things are looking up, as she recently became one of the first Chicago-area veterans to move into the new Raumer Family Veterans Studios transitional housing.                                        Download Image                                            Image Details                                        220624-D-GV919-124                                            4 of 5                                        A Chicago-area veteran gets a free haircut during the city’s summer veteran stand down in June, 2022. Surplus military clothing and shoes from DLA Disposition Services, hot showers in portable facilities, fresh meals and free barbering – just some of the perks regularly offered at veterans stand down events that help put homeless and at-risk veterans face to face with medical professionals, social workers and employment coordinators from the VA, local governments and community partners.                                        Download Image                                            Image Details                                        220811-D-GV919-0123                                            5 of 5                                        Formerly homeless veteran Reggie Howard encourages a Grand Rapids veterans stand down attendee during the city’s outreach event in 2022. Howard said he attended a Veterans Affairs substance abuse program in 2007 and began working for the department in 2008. Nowadays he’s a peer specialist, with a mandate to help vets with everything from attending meetings to arranging housing and transportation. “I’ve been on both sides of it,” Howard said. “It’s so great to be able to see veterans and cheer them on and give them a positive outlook. When they see me, they remember me and they’re like ‘hey, if that guy can do it, I can do it.’”                                        Download Image                                            Image Details                        Humble offerings individually, but together they represent the kind of freebie assortment communities around the nation offer local homeless and at-risk veteran populations during annual “stand down” events. Veteran stand downs – a term lifted from military jargon meaning a temporary break in high-readiness operational posture – are usually one-day events promoted primarily by a mix of community groups and non-profits, local government, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.    

**DLA surplus helps vets**, by Jake Joy, DLA Disposition Services

## Short-Form Production Video, third place

01:21VIDEO  | 01:21 |DLA Document Services, More Than Printing...Solutions

**DLA Document Services, More Than Printing... Solutions**, by Nutan Chada, DLA Headquarters

## Long-Form Production Video, third place

14:26VIDEO  | 14:26 |Disposition Services' Longest Tenured Employees

**Disposition Services' Longest Tenured Employees**, by Peter Gentry, Jeffrey Landenberger, Jason Shamberger and Dana Thornbury, DLA Disposition Services